Mexico City, Guadalajara, Miami, and Kansas City have all played a part in Colombia’s World Cup journey, which has steadily progressed northward over the past three weeks. As thousands of supporters converge on Vancouver, they are eager to witness Néstor Lorenzo’s squad vie for their first quarter-final berth in 12 years against Switzerland on Tuesday. Following enthusiastic crowds in Mexico and the United States, Colombia’s vibrant ‘yellow fever’ is set to make its mark in Canada.
This remarkable fan migration, reminiscent of the last quarter-final appearance in 2014, has transformed host cities into lively hubs of color and joy. Back then, fans traveled en masse to Brazil, motivated by both geographical proximity and the long-awaited return of the selección to the World Cup stage after nearly a generation. James Rodríguez, the star of that tournament, recently spoke to supporters before heading to North America, mindful of past challenges during Colombia’s stay in the US for the 2024 Copa América.
“They should know that we always give everything and that this positive energy – in the right spirit, by posting on social media as well – is contagious,” Rodríguez remarked. “You feel it and I simply ask them to bring those good vibes, keep them going and that they do things properly.”
Despite his efforts, Rodríguez has struggled to assert himself in this World Cup. He was substituted at halftime during Colombia’s last-32 victory over Ghana in Kansas City. Before the match, the team was greeted by supporters from a hotel balcony, an emotional moment for some players, even in a city with a relatively small Colombian presence. Luis Díaz, stepping into Rodríguez’s shoes this tournament, expressed gratitude on social media.
“Thank you for your support. You are incredible!”
For many, following Colombia through the World Cup has become a family tradition. Juan Carlos Mila, 54, is experiencing this for the first time, traveling with his wife and children, who have brought their partners along. They initially flew to Mexico City for the opening match against Uzbekistan before returning to Colombia, having been unable to secure tickets for the subsequent group game against the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Guadalajara.
Upon arriving in the US, they fully embraced the adventure, renting a minivan to navigate the country. They have already traveled 7,000 miles, attending the match in Miami against Portugal and the knockout clash with Ghana in Kansas City. Their next destination is New York, where they hope to see Lorenzo’s team in the final.
“We brought T-shirts, vueltiaos hats, caps, Colombia flags,” Mila shared. “My kids, being entrepreneurs, started selling them. It all helps to pay for the vehicle rental, petrol, food, hotels. I asked them if they were embarrassed by having to do this and they said: ‘No, Dad, it’s embarrassing if you get caught stealing. Why would we be embarrassed?’”
Mila and his family have also put in extra effort to make their presence known in the stadiums. “We made a flag that is around six metres long and cut six holes into it,” he explained. “We put our heads through the holes. The flag says ‘Colombia Mundial 2026’.”
The level of support from Colombian fans has taken opponents by surprise. “This is the first game that we’re playing ‘away from home’, so to speak,” stated Roberto Martínez before Portugal faced Colombia. “There is a huge number of Colombia fans here in Miami, so it will be a big challenge to control the game and be ourselves in these surroundings, keeping our emotions in check.”
The Ghana manager, Carlos Queiroz, also expressed astonishment. Having previously coached Colombia from 2019 to 2020 without ever experiencing a competitive match with fans due to the Covid pandemic, he noted, “Colombia have [good] players, passion and incredible fans,” Following Ghana’s elimination in a stadium filled with yellow shirts, he remarked, “They started to win the game after the anthem. They were stronger with 60,000 people on their side and it affects an inexperienced team. I felt some of my Ghana players were not calm because Colombia’s 12th man did a very good job.”
Interestingly, the Colombia shirt has sparked controversy back home as the World Cup coincided with the second round of presidential elections. Abelardo de la Espriella, the right-wing candidate who is now president-elect, appeared publicly in a Colombia shirt, prompting criticism from his left-wing rival, Iván Cepeda.
“The Colombia team is for all Colombians. Its use for political, personal and ideological purposes is a clearly opportunistic move and its legal implications should be examined,”
Cepeda stated. Following the Colombian Football Federation’s assertion that it did not have the authority to limit the shirt’s use, Cepeda ultimately wore it at his campaign events.
Despite these issues, the Colombia team remains a symbol of unity for the nation. On Tuesday, they hope to continue their World Cup journey, with another strong contingent of fans expected at Vancouver Stadium. “The players are the ones who want it most. Us, as fans, we’re watching it from afar with great anticipation, support and yearning,” Mila concluded. “They’ll go out on to the pitch to give their all. They don’t want to lose the ball or lose the game. That’s contagious.”
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